Viewpoint: Nintendo Switch: A Bold Launch and What Lies Ahead

The Nintendo Switch is here and has made quite the splash. Nearly two months old and already setting high sales records in the US, Japan and Europe. Worldwide the system has now sold roughly 2.4 million units stacking up fairly well against Nintendo’s 2006 release of the Wii, and even more so compared to the flustering Wii U. After just the first week the Switch excelled past both its predecessors (Wii and Wii U) in record time but since has slowed a bit, more than likely due to lack of availability. All this while still 7 months away from the holiday season. Impressive.

If the high sales of the console weren’t enough, the game that released alongside the Switch sold even more. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, according to mcvuk.com, has sold more Switch copies of the game than the actual console itself, with fans buying a second as a collector’s item. If the console wasn’t hyped enough to sell a boat-load of units well outside of the holiday shopping season, a stellar game that speaks to both the casual and most dedicated Nintendo fandom is a sure fire way for a successful launch.

Once the holidays are among us the Nintendo Switch will have a huge list of released games. With the release of the highly anticipated Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, (the Wii U version was the best-selling game for the ill-fated console) and the next official suspender wearing adventure game, Super Mario Odyssey, the Switch looks to up its arsenal well into the first year of its release. Games like NBA Playground, Ultra Street Fighter 2: The Final Challengers, Rime, Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition and almost 70 other titles make up the list that’s sure to keep the hybrid console afloat far passed its original launch date.

Now, all we can do is wait and see how well it continues to sell. We know the demand is here now, and people will flock restlessly to the next store with the Switch on their shelves, but what will come in the next year for Nintendo? With the unexpected announcement of the New 2DS XL, is Nintendo really that confident in their products to have, essentially, two new handhelds on the market? At reasonably affordable prices, it may just be the case.

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Published by Chris Wheatley

Writer for Nitchigamer, Raging Gazebo and LunaWolf Gaming, an avid gamer, he'll put together an article to keep the reader engaged, informed and moderately happy for a solid 4 minutes. That my friend, is no easy feat.
View all posts by Chris Wheatley